MILFORD, Mich. — The Corvette ZR1 has been the center of the automotive performance universe since the covers first came off America's supercar at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. After our first test drive, we were mighty impressed. But yesterday, it was finally time to see if Chevy's most powerful Corvette ever was indeed the quickest.

Test gear in hand, we drove through the gates at GM's proving grounds here, ready to learn if the ZR1 is in fact the monster we all imagined.

With 638 hp from a supercharged V8 engine, it sure should be. But every once in a while, a car fails to live up to its hype. The ZR1's had more than its share of the spotlight, so let's see if it delivers. —Larry Webster

The Drive

The GM official leads us past labs, garages and parking lots full of camouflaged cars to a flat two-lane piece of blacktop that stretches over a mile. It's the perfect place to stretch the ZR1's legs.

We install a Racelogic VBOX GPS-based data recorder to log the figures and get comfortable in the driver's seat. As the priciest Corvette—a cool $116,520 with all the goodies—the ZR1's power seat and power telescoping steering wheel are appreciated luxuries. After all, from the outside this car appears to exist for only one mission— speed.

One piece of standard tech that only a few have discussed thus far is the ZR1's launch control. The system automatically limits engine torque to keep the rear tires hooked up. It's different from traction control because launch control actually allows some wheel spin and progressively feeds in power to produce jack-rabbit starts. With it, even novice drivers can maximize nearly all the thrust the ZR1 has to offer.

We start our runs with launch control engaged, to test its effectiveness. From a standstill, we raise the blown V8's idle to an even 3000 rpm and sidestep the clutch. The tires let out a muffled screech and immediately spin. But right at that instant, we feel the engine soften its output as the launch-control computer does its thing. After perhaps a few dozen feet, the tires regain traction again and the computer releases all the ponies. We're off.

The ZR1 clears 60 mph in first gear and reaches the 6500-rpm redline with startling zeal. We upshift to second, third and into fourth. The engine lets out a crisp bark every time it clears 4000 rpm and, curiously, we can't hear the typical supercharger whine. Another shift into fifth gear brings us past 150 mph. There's still plenty of road left, so we stay in it, finally getting on the brakes once we've reached 165 mph and the end of our courage.

Wow.

The ZR1 hits 60 mph in 4 seconds flat and passes the quarter-mile in 12 seconds at 127 mph with launch control engaged. That's not slow, folks, but we think we can beat that time using our own skill and technique. So we shut off the electronic aid and unleash the beast.

The trick to nailing a perfect launch in any megahorsepower car is harnessing just the right amount of wheel spin. You must generate enough tire slip to get the car moving but not so much that the rubber goes up in an expensive white haze. That razor-thin line is easier described here than achieved at the test track. And it's especially true with the ZR1 because this Vette is all too willing to melt its tires. It takes us four tries, but we eventually get close to that sweet spot. And the numbers are staggering: The ZR1 hits 60 mph in 3.70 seconds, 100 mph in 7.80 seconds, 150 mph in 16.61 seconds and it blows through the quarter mile in 11.50 seconds at 127.82 mph. Imagine what it would do with a pair of slicks.

For comparison, the last Z06 we tested hit 60 mph in 4.37 seconds and tore through the quarter-mile in 12.00 seconds flat at 120.90 mph. So with the right driver, the ZR1 has at least a half-second on a Z06 in the quarter-mile. The braking and skidpad results are equally impressive. The ZR1 pulls a supercarlike 1.04 g on the skidpad and comes to rest from 60 mph in only 94.98 ft and from 30 mph to a stop in just 24.02 ft. If these aren't the best numbers PM has ever seen on a production car, they're darn close.

The Bottom Line

Yes, the ZR1 is an incredible performer. It's on par with the world's best exotics. But when you consider the ZR1 undercuts its rivals by tens of thousands of dollars, those performance numbers become twice as sweet. Best of all, the ZR1 is just as refined, composed and comfortable as any Corvette. The clutch effort doesn't simulate a nautilus machine, the shifts are light and the car feels absolutely glued to the road. We want one.

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